Lodge Dutch Oven: Discover a New Way of Cooking Outdoors
Written: Jul 13 '02 (Updated Nov 07 '04)
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Pros: retains heat well, durable, cooks food nicely over hot coals
Cons: must be "seasoned" correctly and may have to repeat procedure, would not recommend for macaroni
The Bottom Line: If you want to try cooking outdoors in a way other than grilling, a Dutch Oven is a great alternative for preparing a wide variety of foods.
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Lodge Deep Camp Oven 14DCO2/10CO2A/12CO2A/12DCO2 |
A few years ago, if you said the words Dutch Oven to me, I would not have had a clue what you meant. As I discovered camping and delved more into camping groups, I would hear people talk of a Dutch Oven and how wonderful it is. It took me a while, but I have also learned the joys of cooking with a Dutch Oven.
Last summer I purchased the Lodge Dutch Oven. It is a large pot made of heavy cast iron with short "feet" on the bottom. The lid has a lip all around the outer edge and a handle which allows the lid to be hooked and removed. There are two molded tangs on either side of the pot into which slides a heavy gauge stainless-steel bail handle. The handle will stay up in one direction rather than falling flush against the side of the pot.
INITIAL USE & CARE
I still had no idea what to do with the thing. I "cured" - or "seasoned" - the Lodge Dutch Oven as the directions said:
1. Wash in hot, soapy water. Use soap this time only. Rinse and dry completely. Discoloration on towel is normal. This is to remove the coating with which the Dutch Oven is shipped.
2. Apply a thin, even coating of melted shortening (Crisco, Wesson, etc.; do not use butter or butter flavored shortening) with a soft cloth or paper towel. Apply inside and outside (NOTE: make sure you season the lid as well.)
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place on top shelf of oven, upside down. Place aluminum foil on a baking sheet and put on bottom shelf of oven to catch any drippings. Bake in oven for one hour, then turn oven off and let utensil remain in the oven until cool.
Believing I was now set for life with my Lodge Dutch Oven, I took it camping and used it to boil my macaroni on our next camp-out. Okay, that wasn't the brightest thing to do. This caused some rust stains on the inside of the pot. I immediately scoured the pot and seasoned it again.
This time I was afraid to use it. But I had people encouraging me, so I tried it out. I prepared a blueberry cobbler in the Lodge Dutch Oven.
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Dutch Oven Cobbler
Mix two cups of flour, two cups of sugar, two cups of milk, two teaspoons of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking powder in a large Ziplock bag. Knead the mixture until all lumps are removed.
Open two large cans of pie filling (our favorites are: blueberry, cherry, apple and peach). Place Dutch Oven on level ground with 17 coals underneath and 15 coals on lid.
Melt two sticks of butter. Empty ziplock bag into Dutch Oven and immediately pour pie filling in on top (pour in center). Allow to bake for 40-45 minutes making sure coals cook top and bottom evenly.
If done properly, you'll have a light brown crust on top with no sign of fruit until you dig in. If fruit does show through, well, you've still got an awesome taste treat.
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This came out really good. My family devoured the cobbler.
CLEANING & ONGOING MAINTENANCE
Cleaning the Lodge Dutch Oven was a breeze. I wiped it out with a damp paper towel and used just a bit of boiling water on the bits that remained inside. Before putting it away for the winter, I wiped the inside again with some soft Crisco.
Never put a Dutch Oven in a dishwasher. Do not store food in the Lodge Dutch Oven. Deep fry in the Dutch Oven at least six times prior to cooking beans of any kind. Re-season after cooking acidic foods, such as beans or tomatoes
After washing the Lodge Dutch Oven, make sure it is thoroughly dry and then spray lightly with vegetable oil. Buff it a few moments with a paper towel and it is ready to be stored. Never store with the lid on.
Never allow your Lodge Dutch Oven to sit in water or allow water to stand in or on it. It will rust despite a good coating. This is when I had the problem with boiling macaroni, so I just use a different pot for that now.
Never use soap on your Lodge Dutch Oven. The soap will get into the pores of the metal and won't come out very easy. It will return to taint your next meal. If soap is used by mistake, the oven should be put through the pre-treatment procedure, including removal of the present coating.
Do not place your Lodge Dutch Oven empty over a hot fire. Cast iron will crack or warp, ruining it. Do not get in a hurry to heat the oven or you will end up with burnt food or a damaged oven.
Never put cold liquid into a very hot Lodge Dutch Oven. Chances are, it will crack immediately.
WHY A DUTCH OVEN?
The benefits to cooking with cast iron is the amount of heat retention and the evenness of the heat distribution. Especially when cast iron is new, coals should be placed primarily around the bottom of the pot to prevent cracking. The coals can be placed on the lid with no problems.
I have now used my Lodge Dutch Oven for roasting, frying, stewing, and baking. It is such an easy way to cook - similar to using a slow cooker. Simply put the ingredients in and come back at the prescribed time for your food.
For some great recipes using a Dutch Oven, see:
http://www.lodgemfg.com/recipe.asp
http://www.elroynet.com/troop88/dutchoven.html
http://www.macscouter.com/Cooking/DutchOven.html
http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/dutch.html
http://www.ceedubs.com/dutch_oven_recipes.htm
Another shortcut I have found is the new Banquet Homestyle Bakes. These work great if you mix according to the package directions and use the Lodge Dutch Oven over hot coals and with about ten coals on the lid for about 20 minutes. We had Turkey Tetrazzini and Ham & Cheese Hash Browns on our last camping trip.
Cooking in a Dutch Oven takes some getting used to, but it can be a very enjoyable experience if done right.
Other Camping-related reviews:
Eureka Blue Mesa Three-Season Tent
Coleman Weathermaster Tent
Wenzel Screen Room
Coleman Electronic Ignition 2 Burner Propane Stove
Coleman Sleeping Bags
Coleman King Size Flocked Quickbed with Quickpump
Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool
Woodall's Eastern Campground Directory
50 Hikes in the White Mountains
Campmor Online Store
BackCountry Online Store
Eastern Mountain Sports Online Store
Cabela’s Online Store
© 2002 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 38
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